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The settlement terms were a bitter pill for ABC and Stephanopoulos. The agreement mandated a public apology to Trump, which proved particularly humiliating for Stephanopoulos. According to reports, the anchor is “apoplectic” over the settlement. The New York Post revealed, “Stephanopoulos, who claimed Trump had raped E. Jean Carroll during an interview with Republican lawmaker Nancy Mace, was particularly upset about being forced to apologize.”
Adding to the blow, ABC agreed to direct $15 million of the settlement to Trump’s Presidential Library fund, with just $1 covering attorney fees. This one-sided resolution sparked internal tensions at ABC and placed Stephanopoulos under a harsher spotlight than ever before.
While Stephanopoulos has been a mainstay at ABC since 1996, insiders suggest that his role at the network is diminishing. Recent reports indicate that his latest contract came with a pay cut, signaling a potential step down from his high-profile roles. Puck News journalist Dylan Byers observed, “Several insiders speculated that Stephanopoulos’s new deal includes a pay cut and noted that he is likely to eventually take on a more limited role.”
Byers went on to note that ABC has begun positioning David Muir as their lead anchor for special events, further sidelining Stephanopoulos. Speculation is growing that ABC will gradually transition Stephanopoulos out of his anchor role on Good Morning America, opting for a lower-cost replacement.
Despite the turmoil, ABC is reportedly exploring ways to navigate Stephanopoulos’s departure with “diplomatic finesse.” Byers noted, “George may be headed toward his next act as a public figure, but no one wants to be the person responsible for it.” The network seems intent on avoiding public humiliation for one of its veteran stars, even as the writing on the wall becomes increasingly clear.
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For Stephanopoulos, the defamation lawsuit settlement could mark the beginning of the end. After decades as a household name, this latest controversy has placed his future in limbo. With ABC reeling from the financial and reputational fallout, the network’s next moves will be closely watched.
The reckoning for media figures in the post-2024 world is well underway, and George Stephanopoulos may be its latest casualty.
